Welcome To Our 2015 Information Evening

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The Academy of Science & Technology@ George Waters Middle School

Guest NetworkNetwork: SJSD_Guest

PW: 87081049

GENERAL INFORMATION

We are the GWMS “Sharks” - 290 Students, 30 teachers, 15 support staff - 4 homerooms (3 grades X 4 = 12 homerooms) - Pods/teams working together - 6 Middle Schools in St. James-Assiniboia School Division

SCHOOL DAY8:15 am Morning entry 8:30 am Homeroom for all grades 9:55 am Locker stop 11:15 am Lunch 11:35 am Activities 12:15 pm Afternoon entry 12:25 pm Homeroom for all grades 12:25 pm All Sharks reading time 12:40 pm Period 5 begins 1:55 pm Locker stop 3:10 pm Homeroom for all grades 3:15 pm Grade 6 dismissal 3:20 pm Grade 7/8 dismissal

Lunch Hour

- Free supervised lunch program - Full cafeteria Service - Numerous supervised activities

offered at lunch

Academic Program

- Follow standard Manitoba Education curriculum in all subject areas

- 6 Day cycle, 8 periods a day - Grade 6 - 8 take French - Student Services Department

works within classes - Technology infused into EVERY

classroom - All students receive an iPad

mini to support their learning

Daily ProgramLanguage Arts - 14 periods (Shiver Time) (29%) Math - 8 periods (17%) Science - 5 periods (10%) Social Studies - 4 (9%) Phys. Ed./Hockey/Health - 5 (11%) Arts Options - 4 (9%) French - 5 (9%) Practical Arts - 3 (6%)

Digital learning infused into all subject areas

Recommended from Manitoba Education for percentages for each subject area: LA: 27-35%, Math: 15-17% Science: 10-13% Social Studies: 9 - 13% Phys Ed/Health: 9 - 11% Arts: 8 - 10% Language and other: 9-13%

Digital Learning Initiative

and Character!

Digital Learning InitiativeWhy? Engagement.

“Just as we don’t think about the existence of air, kids don’t question the existence of technology and media. They expect technology to be

there, and they expect it to do whatever they want it to do”

Digital Learning Initiative

Students at Middle Years will each receive a 16 gigabyte, Wifi, iPad Mini along with a fitted protective case and charger. In the same manner that you wouldn’t likely respond well to your dentist working on your teeth the same way he did 50 years ago, the connected youth of today don’t respond well to 50 year old teaching practices and instructional tools.

More information in room 12 during the tours.

OptionsVisual Art Band

Art (Visual or Digital) Band

Art (Visual or Digital) Band

Grade 6 Arts Options

Grade 7 Arts Options

Grade 8 Arts Options

Choir/Vocal Jazz/Jazz Band

- Concert Choir - Monday, Wednesday - Vocal Jazz/Jazz Band - Tuesday, Thursday - At lunch

Practical Arts

- Home Economics - Wood Working - Destination Imagination

Destination ImagiNation- Done in the 3rd Rotation of PA - Students work together to open ended

problems - 21st Century Learning Skills Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, & Citizenship

J.A.W.S.S.- Teacher Advisory Program - 10 - 12 students (grade 6, 7, 8) meet a minimum on 2x

per month - Students build a Comprehensive Growth Portfolio

beginning in grade 6 - Team building and Character Education activities

throughout

Unique Programs- V.E.S.T. (ICT infused into all subject areas)

- Hockey Canada Skills Academy (St. James Hockey Academy)

- P.D.H.S. (Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)

- P.A.S.S Program (Preparing All Sharks for Success)

- C.A.R.E. (Celebrating and Recognizing Student Success)

Athletics - Two GymsAtomic to Tier One in all teams - Cross Country - Volleyball - Basketball - Indoor Track - Outdoor Track (Brand New Facility) - Badminton

- more...

Tournaments (Invitational and Divisional)

Intramurals

- Students sign up to participate in intramural activities

- Intramurals take place throughout the year for any interested student at lunch in the gym

Clubs- Improv Club (The

Guppies) - Anime Club - PS Club (Philanthropic

Sharks) - Marathon - Drama Production - Games Room - ICT at Lunch - American Sign Language - Smudging - Bike Club - Dance Club

- AAA Groups - Caring Circle - Guitar Club - Reading in the Library - Grade 6 Club - Science Club - Animation Club - Chanters (Bag pipe) - Science Fair Club - Heritage Fair Club - Rubik’s Cube Club - We Day - Destination Imagination - Tabs for Wheelchair program -Public Speaking Club

Other Important Information• Gym Blasts

• Spring Camps

• Transportation (bussing)

• Home/School Communication

• Daily Reflections

• School Safety

• The Levels of Sharkdom

• Registration Information

Gym BlastHouse System (Hammerheads, Makos, Bulls, Tigers)

- All students are put on a house team - Houses gather points throughout the year in low

organized fun events, team building

Spring CampsGrade 6 Camp 2 days and 1 night at Camp Arnes (Spring)

Grade 7 and 8 Camp 5 days and 4 nights at Pioneer Camp (Spring)

Transportation- Easily accessible by city transit - Catchment students in grade 6 who live North or

Portage Avenue and grade 6 students who walk more than 1.0 km to GWMS are bussed free of charge.

- All grade 6 - 12 students from Brooklands are bussed free of charge.

- If student is in daycare in catchment but lives out of catchment bussing may be provided

- Non Residents and non-catchment area students must provide their own transportation to school

- More information in the cafeteria during the tours

Home/School Communication- Call back system - secretary calls parent directly if

child is absent - Teacher websites/blogs - Email: georgewaters@sjsd.net - School blog: http://gwmssharks.blogspot.ca - School website: http://georgewaters.sjsd.net - Twitter: @andrewmead73 - Instagram: @gwmswpg - Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GeorgeWatersMS - REMIND: (204-800-2782) - GWMS Youtube page: https://m.youtube.com/user/gwmswinnipeg - Student Phone - Parent Portal - SHOWBIE Account (Share files electronically) - iTunes U (course delivery in some areas) - iPads - FAX Hashtag: #GWMSwpg

Daily Reflection Slips

Safety IS First- Main Entrance monitored beginning at 8 AM daily - Vigilant/Caring Staff - Camera Surveillance - Regular Fire drills and Lockdown drills - Staggered lunch hour and dismissal - 4 administrators in ASTEC - School social worker and psychologist - Numerous of activities for everyone to get involved in - Code of Conduct - 'It’s Cool to Care' Program - Safe Schools Committee - www.stopabully.ca - Focus to teach Kindness

Three Levels of Sharkdom

Registration Information- Residents of the SJASD - February 17, 2015 -Registration forms will be available at your elementary

school on February 17, 2015 (or on the GWMS webpage) - Registration forms due Friday, February 20, 2015 (return

to elementary school)

- Non-residents of the SJASD - TODAY - Forms will be available in the cafeteria - Return by February 20, 2015 (or sooner, waiting list)

- Order of Acceptance to GWMS 1. residents within the GWMS school catchment area 2. residents within the St. James- Assiniboia School Division 3. residents within Manitoba A waiting list will be made for students outside the GWMS catchment area.

Our Community at GWMS

Time to explore GWMS!

Families can meet current students, our fabulous staff and see all the wonderful things that happen everyday at #GWMSwpg!

Self Guided Tours